PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania team took down Princeton in today's series opener after seven runs in the eighth inning propelled the Quakers to a 15-9 victory. Penn is now 7-3 in Ivy League play and in sole possession of first place in the standings for Friday evening at the very least. 
 
PENN 15, PRINCETON 9
WP: Joe Miller (4-1)
LP: Eric Hoefer (0-3)
 
NOTES
*Penn reached double digits in scoring for the 13^th time this season and has posted ten or more runs 22 times.
 
*After scoring seven runs in the eighth, the Quakers have put up six or more runs in a single inning 13 times on the season.
 
*Every player in Penn's starting nine registered a hit today. It is the third time the Quakers have accomplished that feat this year.
 
*Four Penn players had multiple knocks today, with Peter Matt, Chris Adams, Eduardo Malinowski, and Tommy Courtney all with two hits.
 
*Seven Penn players tallied an RBI today, while three drove in multiple RBI. Courtney and Matt each had three RBI on the day.  
 
*Joe Miller earned his fourth victory of the season today, pitching the final three innings for Penn. Over three innings, he allowed two runs on three hits—with both runs scored in the final frame—while striking out five and walking three.
 
*Malinowski returned to the starting lineup for today's game. He went 2-for-3 with one run scored before a pinch runner took him out of the game.
 
*Mitchell Holcomb made his seventh start of the season this afternoon. He pitched six innings with five earned runs allowed on eight hits, four strikeouts, and no walks.
 
*Sean Phelan extended his reached-base streak to 29 games today after a walk in the fourth inning.
 
*After going 2-for-5 today, Courtney is batting .302 at this point in the season. Now, eight of Penn's usual starting nine has an average of .300 or higher.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Princeton struck first, scoring on an infield error in the second inning. They added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth after an RBI single and sac fly gave the visitors a 3-0 lead.
 
The Quakers responded in the bottom of the fifth with three runs to tie the game. With two outs and runners on second and third, Courtney struck out swinging on a wild pitch but legged out the throw to first, allowing Hood's run in from third to count.
 
An infield error forced by the bat of Matt allowed Malinowski to score, cutting the deficit to one. O'Neill then smacked an RBI single to right, plating Courtney to tie the game at 3-3.
 
After a scoreless inning by the Tigers in the sixth, the Quakers took their first lead of the game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Courtney laid down a perfect squeeze bunt and beat out the throw to give Penn a 4-3 lead.
 
Matt extended the Quakers' lead on the next at-bat with a two-RBI single to right field, then Courtney scored from third after a wild pitch on the following at-bat to put Penn up 7-3.
 
Princeton immediately struck back in the top of the seventh with four runs of their own to tie the game via a two-RBI double and a two-RBI single. The Quakers regained the lead after a two-out infield error allowed Larsen to score and put Penn ahead, 8-7.
 
Three strikeouts by Joe Miller in the top of the eighth maintained Penn's lead, then an offensive explosion by the hosts in the bottom of the frame all but ensured the victory.
 
Phelan got things going with an RBI double to score Matt, then a sac fly from Larsen made it 10-7. Adams smacked an RBI single over the Princeton shortstop's head to plate Phelan, then an infield error allowed Hood to score, giving Penn a 12-7 lead.
 
McGeagh doubled to right-center on the following at-bat, driving in Cronk and Adams to put the Quakers ahead by seven runs. Courtney closed out the inning with an RBI single to right, plating McGeagh and giving Penn a 15-7 lead.
 
Princeton brought in a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, but the game was put out of reach after Penn's seven-run eighth inning.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Quakers will close out their series with Princeton as the two sides meet for a doubleheader with the first game scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.